The SGA and UT Outdoor Program (UTOP) teamed up to initiate and activate a semester-long bike rental program for students. The program was based on feedback from students and continues this semester.
    
“People wanted a bike safety program on campus and an alternative transportation method offered by the university,” Nick Shoemaker, the bicycle program coordinator for UTOP, said.
   
 SGA provided the information and motivation behind the idea and UTOP provided the storage and maintenance for the bikes.
    
“The new program was fairly successful last semester,” Shoemaker said. “Sixteen out of 20 bikes were rented out, and we have no problems to report. This semester we hope to increase marketing and get more people riding their bikes.”
    
The bikes are made by Kona and are commuter-friendly models.
    
“These are your really basic bikes,” Shoemaker said. “Durable, reliable, easy to ride and maintain. They are mainly meant to be ridden on the streets and greenways around town.”
    
Hanna Loewenberg, a sophomore in biochemistry, took advantage of the program last semester.
    
“This program is great for students because good bikes can be really expensive to buy and these bikes are nice and only $40 for the whole semester,” Loewenberg said. “Also, biking is a convenient way to get around campus. I saved time biking to class rather than walking.”
    
The program’s main priorities are safety and building biking confidence.
    
“We really want to focus on the safety aspect of riding bikes,” Shoemaker said. “I think the lack of education of safe riding and cycling rules is why most people are hesitant to ride bikes around campus and downtown. But this semester we are offering not only Ride Smart Road Rides, March 29 and April 11, 6-7 p.m., but also Bike Maintenance Clinics, Feb. 15, 23 and 29, 6-7:30 p.m. To be comfortable and confident on a bike is the key to safe riding.”
    
All classes and clinics are free to students and meet in the Outdoor Center on the first floor in TRECS.
    
“I really like that they promote safety awareness with the bikes and offer free maintenance,” Loewenberg said. “I never had any troubles with my rental last semester, but if I did, I was confident that the staff at the bike shop could help me out. They really know what they are doing.”
    
The semester-long bike rental program is open to all students. For $40, students can receive a bike, helmet, lock, access to the UT bike shop and a safety instruction course at the time of rental.
    
“We work on a first come, first serve basis,” Shoemaker said. “So come in and get your bike. We have already had five out of the 20 rented this semester.”
    
Students can go to the Outdoor Center to rent the bikes. It is open Monday-Friday, 1-6 p.m. Payments can be made via cash, check or VolCard.
    
“We just want people outside, riding their bikes,” Shoemaker said. “It’s a great way to commute and get to know campus and Knoxville.”